Indy 500 Traditions, Teacher Joy & Happiness Habits That Actually Work

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What's up, buddy? How are we doing? Welcome. Welcome back to the Balancing Act podcast.

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I am Jamie Wonko here with Mr. Joseph Vitale. Hello, Joe. How are you?

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Hey, buddy. What's going on?

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You know, I am pretty happy to be here today with you and highway to the shirt you have on.

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So, yes, we were talking about this just before I had some technical difficulties.

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So my shirt's giving Top Gun vibes. if you're watching on YouTube.

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Yes, it is. It's my new Indy 500 shirt. I went to the Indy 500 this past Memorial

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Day weekend, a few weeks ago, which is something I've been doing for a couple

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of years, which I really enjoy doing.

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So my buddy's mom... Can you tell us, before we really get into your story about

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the Indy 500, can you tell us about our Season 3 sponsor?

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Hey, well, guess what? Our Season 3 sponsor, Speaking of automobiles Which are

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on a track Horrible something Auto insurance Yeah,

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out to Indianapolis when I was driving out there by teacher's insurance plan

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because we are now customers.

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So tell me, how did you start? I know you do. It's an annual trip.

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How did how did all that get started for you?

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Yeah. So my, my, my best friend from like literally the first day of kindergarten,

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I'm very blessed to have some very close friends that I've had for a very long time.

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Um, you know, had to go out to school in the Midwest and find some wonderful

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woman to fall in love with and is married and lives out there now.

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Um, and for years he was like, come out to the race. And I'm like,

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race, I don't, I'm not into car racing.

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I'm really not like, it's not like a thing. so it

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was uh 2016 was 10 years ago and his mom had

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uh unfortunately just passed away um wonderful lady

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a great family and someone that i've been close with for such

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a long time and we were at the the repass and maybe

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had one too many drinks and was like let's just go to the race

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this year and then it's my drunk guy impression and we

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like ordered tickets on the spot impulsively and

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my wife and i wound up going out there i just fell in love with

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uh with being out there and and being

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part of a celebration of america it's always the sunday of memorial

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day weekend and it's just such a spectacle um 350

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000 people uh on race day

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um one in every um one in every 1000 americans is at the race on race day it's

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the largest single day sporting event in the world so and it's it's really cool

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even like you're thinking like oh my god that many people like 350 000 people

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like traffic and of getting out.

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Like when I tell you from a human engineering standpoint that this event is

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like, like what runs like a top, it's like, it is just so crazy.

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Amazingly run in regards to getting people in maybe that's where the world cup should be,

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yeah right tell me about it um i was just talking to a buddy of

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mine because you know as you know we live in new jersey and secaucus is like

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the big hub of the new jersey transit system that like if you want to go to

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metlife stadium where the finals are going to be but for other world cup games

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like you have to take new jersey transit from new york or from new jersey and it goes into to Skalkis,

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then you get off and get on another train, which is a short train ride to MetLife Stadium.

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And apparently there's a day, and I don't exactly know when it is,

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that there's a Knicks playoff game, and there's a World Cup game,

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and there's rush hour traffic, and there's a baseball game in the city,

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and there's a festival somewhere.

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It is going to be like DEFCON level one traffic.

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Event for you find out the day so i can recommend that jason takes off from work,

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yes uh and so stay so stay home

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i want to say it's in july but i definitely will find out

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the day so if it's in july you want to worry about it yeah then we don't have

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to worry about it i when you said the next playoff game i was like oh is that

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still oh wait yeah no no you could yeah i think it was a next playoff game now

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i gotta get my facts straight i gotta make sure um i gotta make sure i know

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what i'm doing but uh anyway um yeah so at the indy 500 like you get up we get

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up but like stupid o'clock in the morning, like two 30 in the morning.

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And we get the car, we drive to where we're going to go in. Cause we park in

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the infield and we're like, we're like the old people.

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Cause we're, we have been diagnosed with excessive oldness. So we go into and

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we tailgate and like everybody bags up their trash and like puts it in a little

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spot. And it's like a nice little area.

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And then there's like, there's turn three and turn three is where all like the,

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it's where all the madness happens.

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It's where the college kids are. it's right next to where the techno

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concert is because there's like a big e i said

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techno it's ed edm music edm yeah you

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lost me at 2 30 in the morning yeah it was way it's way too early it's like

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i i kind of dread time i dread the wake-up call but they blast off a cannon

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at 6 a.m and fireworks and everybody starts beeping their horn and they start

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letting everybody in and then you know you're just there and celebrating america

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and the most powerful thing.

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Is they do a celebration of America and they do an invocation from a priest

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and they do flyovers, which are just amazing.

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And they play taps for Memorial Day weekend. And it is so incredibly powerful to be there,

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in dead silence with 350,000 people standing in reference to America at that point.

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It really is a, it's a very, very cool moment to be a part of every year.

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It's one of the things I really look forward to every year.

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And it's kind of the kickoff to summer and stuff like that. Yeah.

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What a little civics teacher you are.

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Yeah. It's something fun to do. And my wife, you know, hasn't gone the last

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couple of years because her schedule is a little too crazy. My daughter was

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supposed to go this year.

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She was looking, she wants to travel to all 50 states and was

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going to go out there we were talking it up and for good

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reason she wound up not attending she wound up winning a scholarship from

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the new jersey vietnam veterans memorial um she

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was the scholarship winner for this year yeah which she wrote

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an amazing essay i read it and i was like she's gonna

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win this damn thing and she's not gonna be able to go so she was like kind of

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upset but also very happy that she won the scholarship so yeah yeah it was awesome

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and we've been going through like award season and the prom and you know now

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we're into not it's not maycember it's june whatever you want to call it where

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it's like every day there's something and it's a yearbook.

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It's june i think that works june abrasion yeah i have to tell you that i was

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like so impressed with the award ceremony at our children's school and i sent

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um an email to the head of guidance i I really,

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the last few years, and I guess it's, you know, as I get older, I...

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Have such an awareness of, or at least I try always to show gratitude.

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And I often try to put myself into, you know, the shoes of someone else whose

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job it is to do, you know, so many things throughout their day.

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And then all of the extra things, as so many of us in education know that,

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you know, would never get done if people didn't just volunteer their,

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you know, extra time and, you know, abilities to do it.

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A profession that is built on the backs of unpaid overtime, right?

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Nick Ferroni has said that often. Yeah, I'm thinking about this woman who,

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you know, arranged it and there were like over 100 awards given.

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And, you know, just from an organizational standpoint, the, you know,

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putting together who is going to donate, collecting the checks,

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organizing the speakers,

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contacting, I mean, amount of family members that came, you know,

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even to give them that moment to memorialize their family member that they had

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lost, that they raised money for,

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you know, in their name to give to a high school senior who carries on their legacy in some way.

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I thought, gosh, that must be such a highlight of their year to be able to honor

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and remember their family member in that way that they come out to the ceremony to speak about them.

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And, you know, I just really, I have to say, thinking about it,

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it was like, yes, did we work today? And yes, was it a long day?

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Yes, is it going to be, you know, it was a long ceremony, but worth it,

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like every minute of that.

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And actually, one of our colleague's sons is also graduating, and she has.

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His ceremony coming up. And I was saying to her, she said, I have to go on a,

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you know, I'm going here with my other child and it's a long day.

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And I said, I just want you to think about it from, you know,

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the opposite point of view and how, you know, how worth it is for these kids

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to have, you know, the recognition that they deserve for working so hard.

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And then all of the hard work that went into the program itself.

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And I felt like so privileged to be

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there because not every kid gets invited either you know

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our children's class has 420 kids

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in it or something like that and you know um and

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certainly was not their entire class so the you know it was

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a really it was a privilege to witness all of those

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kids and some of them you know jason and i were like like

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elbowing each other like oh my goodness that's the soccer coach from

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when drew was five and oh that's you remember his wife and

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they had yeah yeah where they had like 8 000 snacks

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it was like a snack before the game a snack at halftime

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it was it was just basically more

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i think they gave there were the people that gave all the kids snacks

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during the award ceremony right did you see them they were like all right that's

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10 awards have gone everyone get a uh an ice pop everyone get a cheese stick

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there was a lot of ice cream that year i'm sure there was um yeah so it it's

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really cool and you know a lot of the a lot of the kids like and even myself like a lot of the

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girls that that went up like i had coached on

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my daughter's soccer team and you know just parents

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that you see and it's good to see you know and i don't want to name names but

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i we're driving home and i always i always use my daughter as a barometer right

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my son is like we as as i joked before like my son is go with the flow joe um

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my man's like where's the prom i don't know where where are we getting a limo

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what time are you taking pictures i don't know um.

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But my daughter is like these details. Like when my daughter gets upset about something,

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then it's time for me to get upset about it because she is she's a very good

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at analyzing like, OK, when do I need to like really be pissed off and put all

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my chips in the center of the table? You know what I mean?

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So and this was not one of those. So she wasn't angry about anything.

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But we're driving home and she made a comment about one of her classmates.

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And it's not in a bad way at all. And I actually texted the parent afterwards

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and made and made mention of it. And I said, and she said, you know, for so-and-so.

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Every single award that that person won was absolutely earned and well worth

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it. They are dedicated to everything.

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They're in every honor society. They show up at everything. They're kind. They're respectful.

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There was no point where that person was like, oh, this person again?

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That person deserved to win every award that they won.

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And I encouraged my daughter because we don't do that as a people.

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That's why I reached out to the parent because that message would never get.

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Tell them. Tell them. I said it to my daughter. I said, you should tell her that. Tell her.

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Because there's probably some of that child, that young lady who was like,

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I kind of want another one and I have to go up again.

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Like, there could be some of that.

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Because I also think that that might be kind of her personality.

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She wasn't like, oh, I won again.

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Look at me cheering for myself. Like, that's not what it was.

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Like, almost like a little bit red faced and be like, oh, my goodness,

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I can't believe they're calling my name again. where maybe she needs to know

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that other people feel that way about her.

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So I made sure that the parent knew that like, hey, my daughter said this about your kid.

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And I thought you should know that because it speaks to your child's character

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and the kind of person that she is.

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And I thought that was awesome. And this is like that weird time like for these

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kids where like all the BS starts to go away, or at least that's what I'm hoping,

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where like they're starting to realize like time is... Well,

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they only have a couple weeks left for that.

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So hopefully it is. like time is fleeting and there's only a short period of

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time and we need to remember each others because you will leave this moment yeah and that's it,

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Like, yeah, you'll have reunions and yeah, you have social media and yeah,

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you'll see everybody every once in a while, but not to be Debbie Downer,

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but like people pass away, people move and don't come back.

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People, you know, their lives change for a variety of different reasons.

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So enjoy, like I kept saying to my daughter when she was frustrated and having

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difficult times with certain things, like don't wish time away because it's

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a resource that you never get back.

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So hopefully that's advice that she's listened to. But it really has been like

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very poignant for the two of them.

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You know, my son won his award and he's like, I got a plaque.

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Like, no, Joe, your name goes on a plaque. You don't get a plaque.

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Your name goes on a plaque.

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It's so special. And to see them coming into their own.

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Yeah. They did often say like, you know, and like, and the winner of this award

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is Andrew Wonko. I was like, who's Andrew?

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Like, is there an Andrew run? Yeah. That we know?

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We forget. That's his name. It is his name. So it's only at ceremonies.

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And, yeah, I know. I said to him recently, because we had always talked about he hates it so much.

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Like, do you think you'll change it? You know, and we kind of looked into it

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a few years ago. And then we said, oh, gosh, if you really want to do it,

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you can do it when you're 18, because it's so annoying.

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Like, as parents, like, you both have to show up and then you have to get a

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lawyer. And it's a lot easier if you just if he decides to change it,

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you know, in the future. But I don't know. He's kind of gone.

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Now he's like, I don't. He just doesn't care as much as he did when he was young.

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But one of the one of the people who presented the award knew him and she said Drew, which was nice.

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Nice. And I texted her and was like, thank you so much for the award.

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And also thank you for saying his name, because I know like he,

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you know, he noticed I noticed.

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And yeah, it's very cool. It was a great night. It's a lot of clapping.

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It was, you know, there.

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Um, the advisor of like the Mu Alpha Theta Math Society is a teacher named Mr.

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Tufts, who I absolutely love.

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Oh, he was funny. He was very funny. Yeah. I think he's fantastic.

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He told a great story about the fact like, this is the 17th anniversary of my

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award ceremony where I was the only person who did not win an award. Yes, that's right.

00:15:04.368 --> 00:15:08.288
I was invited to the award ceremony and my parents watched every child get an

00:15:08.288 --> 00:15:10.088
award, but I didn't win anything.

00:15:10.988 --> 00:15:17.148
I was just like, that's the greatest story. And also, he was actually a chaperone

00:15:17.148 --> 00:15:18.988
when the kids went to Nashville with band.

00:15:19.628 --> 00:15:23.028
Oh, yeah. Yeah. And they all were like, he was such a great chaperone.

00:15:23.128 --> 00:15:27.068
And he plays, oh, I hate to say the wrong instrument. I'm pretty sure it's the trumpet.

00:15:27.968 --> 00:15:32.208
Minstrel bells. Doesn't he play bells? Does he play bells or something?

00:15:32.368 --> 00:15:34.688
No, a saxophone trumpet, something like that.

00:15:35.468 --> 00:15:39.788
Okay. Yeah. I mean, sometimes you can play more than one, but yeah.

00:15:40.188 --> 00:15:43.528
I think on his website, he mentioned he's in a minstrel choir or something like

00:15:43.528 --> 00:15:45.308
that. Just an all-around great guy.

00:15:45.528 --> 00:15:49.608
Like very, I would say the word eccentric probably fits his personality,

00:15:49.608 --> 00:15:51.268
but he would own that badge.

00:15:51.428 --> 00:15:56.528
And he also has a daughter who is a high school senior.

00:15:56.788 --> 00:15:59.728
So he was mentioning how like. Oh, he was saying yes. Yeah. It's like so surreal

00:15:59.728 --> 00:16:03.908
that like in another week, I'm going to be sitting at my daughter's award ceremony.

00:16:03.908 --> 00:16:07.768
And that's a weird thing to think about when you've sat through so many of those

00:16:07.768 --> 00:16:09.688
and now your own child is going to go through it. So.

00:16:10.208 --> 00:16:13.348
Yeah. But yeah, those are the, I'm glad you reached out and said something too,

00:16:13.408 --> 00:16:14.808
because those are the thankless jobs, right?

00:16:14.888 --> 00:16:18.628
The jobs that like, yeah, nobody gets the thank you for. Send the note.

00:16:18.928 --> 00:16:23.268
Yeah. Send the note. Absolutely. Say the thing, you know, send the email and

00:16:23.268 --> 00:16:26.648
tell them because it's important.

00:16:26.928 --> 00:16:31.288
People need to hear it. Yeah. And we've got to spread a little bit more kindness

00:16:31.288 --> 00:16:35.608
and joy, which actually joy is our topic today.

00:16:36.008 --> 00:16:39.708
Yeah. And I know we always close our show by saying like, hey,

00:16:39.748 --> 00:16:42.248
I appreciate you. but that's something that I try to.

00:16:43.737 --> 00:16:48.037
When somebody does something that I appreciate, I always make sure to make sure

00:16:48.037 --> 00:16:51.197
that I do my best to make sure that they know.

00:16:52.317 --> 00:16:57.077
Even with my children that I sometimes overlook, I'll say to my son,

00:16:57.157 --> 00:17:00.617
hey, I really appreciate the fact that you stepped up today and helped with

00:17:00.617 --> 00:17:03.557
whatever or that you were this or that.

00:17:03.897 --> 00:17:07.217
It does not go unnoticed, and thank you for doing that. Yeah.

00:17:07.737 --> 00:17:10.497
Living with gratitude. Everybody needs it.

00:17:11.824 --> 00:17:16.024
Anyway, but no, you were saying a joy is our, uh, is, is our,

00:17:16.104 --> 00:17:21.184
uh, joy is our topic today. Topic today. Yes.

00:17:21.424 --> 00:17:25.344
Uh, so there was a recent article in the magazine that we were,

00:17:25.464 --> 00:17:29.004
uh, featured in different month. No, um, no, same month.

00:17:29.764 --> 00:17:33.584
It's not the same. No, it's NEA today. Excuse me. It's not NJEA today.

00:17:33.744 --> 00:17:36.304
It's the NEA today, um, article.

00:17:36.604 --> 00:17:39.404
Yes. Jamie is currently holding it up. So we were, yes. I mean,

00:17:39.504 --> 00:17:43.704
you know, sorry off the shoulder. We were featured in the NJEA,

00:17:43.784 --> 00:17:48.244
which is, you know, obviously just for New Jersey. And this is the NEA,

00:17:48.324 --> 00:17:49.184
the National Education.

00:17:49.424 --> 00:17:57.324
And if NEA today would like to feature us in an article, yes, we are a yes.

00:17:57.964 --> 00:18:01.184
A hundred percent, we are there for you, NEA today.

00:18:01.664 --> 00:18:06.604
This magazine, Cross, I do have to say, in this digital world, I heart a magazine.

00:18:07.384 --> 00:18:11.204
Yeah, you don't get it very often. I love it. No. And I get this in the mail.

00:18:12.044 --> 00:18:16.384
And yeah, it's to my home. And there are certain things.

00:18:16.484 --> 00:18:20.884
I remember I had one particular teacher, professor, when I was getting my master's.

00:18:21.064 --> 00:18:25.644
And she made us sign up. I remember it at the time being like, really?

00:18:25.844 --> 00:18:29.224
But we had to put our name on so many different professional

00:18:29.224 --> 00:18:32.804
organizational mailing lists and

00:18:32.804 --> 00:18:38.964
freebies and all of these things and i still get different things specific from

00:18:38.964 --> 00:18:44.244
that like back in 2003 which is wild yeah i remember that what was her name

00:18:44.244 --> 00:18:49.804
pierce i think her name was pierce at uh it is that uh kane university right

00:18:49.804 --> 00:18:51.784
i believe go cougars is that what it was.

00:18:53.105 --> 00:18:56.125
Um university you know if you wanted to go back into the archives

00:18:56.125 --> 00:18:59.205
a little fun fact about me mr vitale but i was

00:18:59.205 --> 00:19:01.865
i know this already oh i told this on the pod you did

00:19:01.865 --> 00:19:05.025
no you told me i don't know i was walking

00:19:05.025 --> 00:19:07.985
through um i worked on campus um my junior

00:19:07.985 --> 00:19:10.865
and senior year i had this fantastic job and i

00:19:10.865 --> 00:19:13.625
was walking and hey uh would you be in this video and

00:19:13.625 --> 00:19:16.605
i was like being a video i have to go to work and they were like well who's your boss

00:19:16.605 --> 00:19:19.845
i'm like my she's upstairs so they um

00:19:19.845 --> 00:19:22.745
asked if i could do it sure of course yes

00:19:22.745 --> 00:19:26.685
and um so i was in this like informational video like

00:19:26.685 --> 00:19:29.505
a recruitment video oh nice and so i

00:19:29.505 --> 00:19:33.045
can't think of cane without cane university your

00:19:33.045 --> 00:19:36.045
future starts here that was my line yes that was

00:19:36.045 --> 00:19:38.625
your line thank you but they had like one of those like and the

00:19:38.625 --> 00:19:41.625
camera went up on the thing and then down and my

00:19:41.625 --> 00:19:44.725
payment for being in the recruitment video

00:19:44.725 --> 00:19:47.485
was um i got to go

00:19:47.485 --> 00:19:50.405
into the bookstore and pick like any piece of merch that

00:19:50.405 --> 00:19:53.225
I wanted wow good for you and I got like

00:19:53.225 --> 00:19:58.945
this really great gray hooded like cane yes and I and you know those bad boys

00:19:58.945 --> 00:20:03.545
are expensive yes they are it was worth it to me plus I didn't even have to

00:20:03.545 --> 00:20:09.065
go to work which was like you know super cool exactly you know I mean come on

00:20:09.065 --> 00:20:13.045
shut up I still have that VHS tape if anyone wants to crack out there.

00:20:13.305 --> 00:20:15.465
I mean, we're going to have to. I mean, I'm working.

00:20:17.145 --> 00:20:21.605
I'm going to break up. I do still have a VCR somewhere. NCAA tournament.

00:20:22.065 --> 00:20:24.665
It was like all these, like we had to say like division one.

00:20:24.825 --> 00:20:27.785
I don't, we had to say all these lines and then it ended.

00:20:28.145 --> 00:20:31.265
Cain University, your future starts here. Yeah.

00:20:32.145 --> 00:20:37.245
So there was, the article was about the joy of teaching, Right.

00:20:37.425 --> 00:20:39.685
So right. So back to NEA today. Yes.

00:20:39.965 --> 00:20:42.405
And the article is The Joy of Teaching.

00:20:42.885 --> 00:20:51.845
And the line on the inside title says, this is still a great job! Exclamation point.

00:20:52.785 --> 00:20:56.745
Yes. Now, some of you teachers out there are thinking...

00:20:58.051 --> 00:21:01.651
This is still a great job. Question mark?

00:21:02.891 --> 00:21:05.651
Question mark. That's great.

00:21:05.991 --> 00:21:14.291
So I am obsessed and have been for years with joy, happiness,

00:21:14.291 --> 00:21:20.971
and how and why some people are happier than others.

00:21:22.031 --> 00:21:30.031
Okay. Okay. So this, to me, immediately sparked probably what is in my top three

00:21:30.031 --> 00:21:34.971
favorite books of all time, The Happiness Project by a Miss Gretchen Rubin.

00:21:35.471 --> 00:21:40.431
Okay. Have you ever read it? I have not. Okay. Because I've read it and reread

00:21:40.431 --> 00:21:42.411
it and read it and reread it and given it.

00:21:42.591 --> 00:21:47.431
I can't believe I've never given it to you to read. I'm just so happy I don't

00:21:47.431 --> 00:21:48.651
need it. That's what it is.

00:21:49.371 --> 00:21:53.551
Hang on. I'm going to read it. It's probably right here. it just it just might

00:21:53.551 --> 00:21:57.471
oh i'm sorry is this my bedazzled mug yes oh as a matter of fact yes it is a

00:21:57.471 --> 00:22:05.791
bedazzled mug my goodness okay so this is it i always have it on my nightstand props,

00:22:06.811 --> 00:22:09.751
it is well it is well loved it is well worn

00:22:09.751 --> 00:22:12.531
and i have all sorts of things that i've

00:22:12.531 --> 00:22:15.691
stuffed in in here and i've read it and essentially

00:22:15.691 --> 00:22:25.531
it is years of research into what makes some people happier than others but

00:22:25.531 --> 00:22:33.191
what are the habits of happy people okay so when i looked at.

00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:37.459
Trying to see when was this. When I saw this article, I thought,

00:22:37.999 --> 00:22:45.579
wow, you know, I see all these posts and these polls that say things like,

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:50.779
who are the unhappiest people in their jobs? You know, and it's like these rankings.

00:22:51.199 --> 00:22:55.359
And often, right there with the most miserable are teachers,

00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:59.099
nurses, first responders, right?

00:22:59.199 --> 00:23:02.819
That kind of comes up. And I suppose that's the content in my algorithm.

00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:09.279
And, you know, and I always think, geez, isn't that sad to think that your profession

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:12.799
is the number one most miserable?

00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:18.459
I think one of the things that's in the article that I'm having a difficult

00:23:18.459 --> 00:23:23.319
time wrapping my head around was there's a lot of comments about like salary.

00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:30.159
Like I make $53,000 a year, but I'm the happiest person I am in my job because

00:23:30.159 --> 00:23:33.979
I, you know, create relationships with my students.

00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:37.979
And like, granted, please don't get me wrong that all that stuff is great.

00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:45.019
Okay. OK, but like we're also working three other jobs.

00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:49.939
Yes. I mean, that. Yeah. There's other articles that are out there like like

00:23:49.939 --> 00:23:52.439
I'm not saying that this is a propaganda article because it's not.

00:23:52.439 --> 00:23:56.919
And it is good to see that, like, yeah, you know, it's put out by an education association.

00:23:56.999 --> 00:24:02.499
And it's something that like they asked a number of people that are really happy in their jobs.

00:24:02.499 --> 00:24:06.859
But we don't know what their financial situation is, where you have,

00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:09.979
you know, I forget what the numbers are, but there was a recent study that came

00:24:09.979 --> 00:24:14.719
out with the percentage of teachers that are working a second job to, you know...

00:24:15.606 --> 00:24:19.686
Not like to earn extra, like to make ends meet. We're not talking about like,

00:24:19.786 --> 00:24:21.846
I want to earn extra money because I want to go on vacation.

00:24:22.146 --> 00:24:23.746
No, I want to go on another vacation. Right. No, no, no. It's like,

00:24:23.946 --> 00:24:25.626
I'm trying to make ends meet.

00:24:25.846 --> 00:24:29.166
I'm trying to put food on the table and help.

00:24:29.326 --> 00:24:36.286
And we've talked to some teachers across the country that have incredibly low salary basis to start.

00:24:36.906 --> 00:24:44.986
Yeah. It takes a very long time. So that devalues our profession a lot because we, of course, equate.

00:24:46.106 --> 00:24:48.866
Like is success is money a measure of

00:24:48.866 --> 00:24:51.686
success and yeah it's great to say that you're happy

00:24:51.686 --> 00:24:54.466
and that you're you're really pleased in your job and i

00:24:54.466 --> 00:24:57.186
am don't get me wrong but the fact that i'm

00:24:57.186 --> 00:25:02.606
also 28 years in and financially stable right makes it like if i wasn't financially

00:25:02.606 --> 00:25:06.446
stable there'd be this would be a different conversation have you ever thought

00:25:06.446 --> 00:25:10.906
i work in education why is finding a job so weirdly hard yeah scrolling through

00:25:10.906 --> 00:25:15.146
random job boards where half the listings don't even make sense is not the vibe.

00:25:15.326 --> 00:25:18.446
That's why njschooljobs.com actually makes sense.

00:25:18.646 --> 00:25:22.166
It's a job board built specifically for New Jersey schools, public,

00:25:22.466 --> 00:25:24.146
private, charter, and parochial.

00:25:24.286 --> 00:25:27.546
Teachers, administrators, counselors, support staff, coaching opportunities.

00:25:27.546 --> 00:25:30.286
If your job involves a bell schedule, this site's for you.

00:25:30.446 --> 00:25:34.466
It's free for job seekers. You can upload your resume, set job alerts,

00:25:34.646 --> 00:25:36.406
and apply without jumping through hoops.

00:25:36.566 --> 00:25:41.326
Schools across New Jersey actively use njschooljobs.com so these are real current

00:25:41.326 --> 00:25:45.786
openings they also host virtual job fairs where you can connect with multiple

00:25:45.786 --> 00:25:50.446
districts online no driving all over the state those are coming up soon so check

00:25:50.446 --> 00:25:55.726
the link in our episode description to register head to njschooljobs.com.

00:25:58.079 --> 00:26:01.679
Hey, Teacher Besties! I'm Andrea Forgham, and I am so excited to share with

00:26:01.679 --> 00:26:05.059
you that my book, They Never Taught Us That, is available right now.

00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:09.579
It is everything an experienced or first-year teacher needs to manage the chaos

00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:13.719
of the modern classroom, including some anecdotes to make you feel a little bit better.

00:26:13.899 --> 00:26:17.259
Because if there is a way that you can screw up, I've probably done it.

00:26:17.379 --> 00:26:21.119
It also has advice on how to build trust with families, how to manage grading

00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:24.999
and lesson plans and IEPs and everything else that they never went over in your

00:26:24.999 --> 00:26:28.919
teacher prep program. They never taught us that is available everywhere right now.

00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:35.459
Right. So it says almost 95% of teachers around the world say they often feel happy at work.

00:26:37.479 --> 00:26:46.639
Okay. I wonder what often means. And also, right, I feel happy at work every

00:26:46.639 --> 00:26:50.819
day, not all day, but quite often. And there's, right, so often.

00:26:51.419 --> 00:26:56.799
But I do believe that with this particular article, because they do have these

00:26:56.799 --> 00:27:02.079
really nice pictures and they have a paraprofessional here and they have a reading teacher.

00:27:02.219 --> 00:27:04.339
One is from Hawaii.

00:27:04.819 --> 00:27:06.619
One is from Montana.

00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:08.819
One is from New Hampshire.

00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:13.339
Then they have another lady from, another teacher from Arizona.

00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:17.159
And so they have these different perspectives from all over the country.

00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:23.119
But I do think that two things can be true, right?

00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:32.919
So you can have, you can feel happiness in your job often, but it doesn't mean

00:27:32.919 --> 00:27:35.979
that you should just take what you get.

00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:39.359
Okay. And not get upset, right?

00:27:39.699 --> 00:27:45.979
So, you know, making $26,000 a year is probably not the, you know,

00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:52.079
it's not like just, oh, well, you're off and happy, so be quiet about it. Yeah. Right? Yeah.

00:27:54.244 --> 00:27:58.904
Even in Hawaii, like I'm looking here, I know that they pay for things like

00:27:58.904 --> 00:28:03.624
relocation expenses for people because there's such a shortage of teachers.

00:28:03.824 --> 00:28:09.904
Teachers in special education may receive bonuses of at least $10,000 just for signing contracts.

00:28:10.844 --> 00:28:14.464
Teachers with national board certification can receive an additional $5,000

00:28:14.464 --> 00:28:18.884
to $10,000 if they're working in high-need schools because, like,

00:28:19.124 --> 00:28:24.064
you know, I've vacationed in Hawaii, and many of the people of Hawaii,

00:28:24.144 --> 00:28:27.604
the native people of Hawaii who, I don't want to get into the politics of all

00:28:27.604 --> 00:28:32.124
this, who are being pushed out of the areas in which they live and also live

00:28:32.124 --> 00:28:33.624
in areas that are objectively,

00:28:34.204 --> 00:28:38.464
like, they're not the greenest or the brightest because they're using the water

00:28:38.464 --> 00:28:47.004
from those places to, to take care of the lush grounds of the resorts and hotels that are in the area.

00:28:47.584 --> 00:28:51.324
One of the reasons there was huge wildfires in Maui is because of the diversion

00:28:51.324 --> 00:28:52.764
of water and the dry soil.

00:28:54.224 --> 00:29:02.184
At the same time, many of those inhabitants are moving off of the island onto

00:29:02.184 --> 00:29:05.644
the mainland because the education systems are better,

00:29:05.864 --> 00:29:09.744
the healthcare system is better, because they have shortages of those jobs that

00:29:09.744 --> 00:29:12.564
you just talked about. Teachers, nurses, first responders.

00:29:13.604 --> 00:29:17.724
So again, I'm glad that people are happy. I'm happy.

00:29:19.784 --> 00:29:22.404
But I think that there also needs to be a.

00:29:24.861 --> 00:29:27.801
Increase financially for every teacher across the board. Yes.

00:29:28.261 --> 00:29:35.041
So this one, which I do like, to kind of end it, well, it's quite a lot of pages long.

00:29:35.141 --> 00:29:40.961
But there's one teacher and he says, he gives tips, yes, on how to stay in love with teaching.

00:29:41.201 --> 00:29:45.241
So some of our listeners are done with their school years already, right?

00:29:45.461 --> 00:29:49.541
Some of us are, you know, in the last couple of weeks. And I know that many

00:29:49.541 --> 00:29:54.641
of us take, you know, the summer to think about and analyze,

00:29:54.921 --> 00:29:59.021
you know, what went well this year, what could I have done differently and things like that.

00:29:59.121 --> 00:30:03.061
So this part of the article, I liked.

00:30:03.441 --> 00:30:08.521
It says, he says, how to stay in love with teaching. Number one, stay curious.

00:30:09.541 --> 00:30:13.601
Okay. And I agree with that. You, you know, there's got to be,

00:30:13.741 --> 00:30:15.141
there's somebody that we work

00:30:15.141 --> 00:30:20.661
with and he sort of plays that role of no caresies, even though he does.

00:30:20.981 --> 00:30:25.501
Yes. And I think he like enjoys like that people think that he isn't so,

00:30:25.641 --> 00:30:31.061
and every single time I talk to him, he tells me something new.

00:30:31.201 --> 00:30:33.661
Hey, have you heard of, hey, have you tried?

00:30:34.041 --> 00:30:38.881
Hey, did you see every time? And it's always like, you know,

00:30:39.061 --> 00:30:42.621
so that stay curious, I think, is very,

00:30:42.861 --> 00:30:47.301
very important because even the teachers who appear to, like,

00:30:47.421 --> 00:30:50.681
not care as much or they're, you know, like, they're too cool to be, like,

00:30:51.221 --> 00:30:55.301
enthusiastic are curious and trying, you know.

00:30:55.881 --> 00:31:00.601
Number two, find passion in some aspect of the job.

00:31:02.446 --> 00:31:10.206
Okay. So do you feel like there is like one particular area that you are very passionate about?

00:31:11.146 --> 00:31:18.166
Yeah, I do. I mean, I like, again, I think, yes, I would answer yes for you. But what would you use?

00:31:18.326 --> 00:31:22.826
No, I absolutely do. I mean, I want to talk holistically for a second.

00:31:23.026 --> 00:31:29.166
Like I try to do like, like, for example, you know, I started doing lessons

00:31:29.166 --> 00:31:33.206
from the on the road with Steve Hartman Kindness 101 challenge with my students.

00:31:33.406 --> 00:31:37.486
I started doing like these daily or like every week I would do one.

00:31:38.106 --> 00:31:41.046
You know, I've been catching up on some curriculum stuff the last few weeks,

00:31:41.166 --> 00:31:50.426
but I did like something about like friendship and empathy and kindness and, you know,

00:31:50.966 --> 00:31:53.926
different things that need to be done in society.

00:31:53.926 --> 00:31:56.446
I'm trying to create well-rounded citizens.

00:31:56.646 --> 00:31:59.846
Like that's what I'm passionate about. Like, and I've talked to my students

00:31:59.846 --> 00:32:04.906
often about And I don't go into a lot of the details because of how divisive

00:32:04.906 --> 00:32:08.246
some of the discussions are with politics and stuff like that.

00:32:08.366 --> 00:32:09.506
It's hard in the civics class.

00:32:10.126 --> 00:32:13.506
But I try to tell them, like, hey, some of the adults and how they're handling

00:32:13.506 --> 00:32:18.006
these situations are not the way it's supposed to be. And it's got to be up to you guys to fix it.

00:32:18.626 --> 00:32:22.606
Like, so I want you to be knowledgeable. I want you to have things that you're passionate about.

00:32:22.766 --> 00:32:27.186
I want you to know where to find the answers to questions that you don't know the answers to.

00:32:27.506 --> 00:32:31.286
When my daughter says to me, oh, you got to tell me who to vote for. No, I don't.

00:32:31.486 --> 00:32:34.526
That's up to you to figure out. You have to figure out what you stand for.

00:32:34.626 --> 00:32:37.646
You have to figure out who you believe in. It's not about what political party you are.

00:32:37.786 --> 00:32:40.586
It's who you think is going to make the best decisions for you. Right.

00:32:40.946 --> 00:32:46.426
Rank your, I have them do things like rank the things that they feel are most important right now.

00:32:47.026 --> 00:32:50.306
Right. And I talked to them about myself about like, I, you know,

00:32:50.366 --> 00:32:53.226
it's really important to me that any candidate that goes into office for any

00:32:53.226 --> 00:33:00.406
position that's going to represent me feels the way I do about schools and school funding that, um.

00:33:01.807 --> 00:33:07.107
You know, is going to, you know, especially now with affordability and the cost of everything.

00:33:07.347 --> 00:33:11.367
Like, those are things that are important to me and a lot of everyday average Americans.

00:33:12.507 --> 00:33:15.927
So I'm trying to create well-rounded students. Like, that's where my passion

00:33:15.927 --> 00:33:17.567
lies with what I do, right?

00:33:18.027 --> 00:33:20.707
It's not that I couldn't do that if I was teaching something else,

00:33:21.227 --> 00:33:25.167
but I really like the fact that I teach civics and getting them to understand

00:33:25.167 --> 00:33:27.827
when I get the question of, well, why do I need to learn this anyway?

00:33:27.827 --> 00:33:33.167
I'm like, well, like, don't you want to know what your rights are?

00:33:33.287 --> 00:33:37.807
Like, so if they're ever taken advantage of, you also know what you can do.

00:33:38.167 --> 00:33:41.407
Like if your rights are being taken away from you or if they're being taken

00:33:41.407 --> 00:33:46.267
advantage of, like that, that's one of the primary reasons that we're doing this.

00:33:46.627 --> 00:33:50.727
So I definitely feel that way. So you have your passion. I absolutely do.

00:33:50.847 --> 00:33:51.927
Yeah. I really do. So much passion.

00:33:52.607 --> 00:33:56.547
Number three, focus on building relationships with students.

00:33:57.147 --> 00:34:03.347
Yes. That is crazy important. I would say, like, passion and relationships.

00:34:03.727 --> 00:34:07.887
There's definitely, you know, like, I love, like, learning how to learn or get

00:34:07.887 --> 00:34:11.287
to the more difficult learner. The building the relationships, yes.

00:34:11.727 --> 00:34:13.907
And, you know, the...

00:34:15.670 --> 00:34:24.170
Social norms that have gone so far from so many of our students' lives is really

00:34:24.170 --> 00:34:28.490
important, like to model proper behavior in social norms.

00:34:29.070 --> 00:34:33.610
And so like saying hello, greeting someone, looking at them,

00:34:34.090 --> 00:34:35.690
reading their facial expressions.

00:34:35.890 --> 00:34:38.550
Can you tell if the person is having a bad day?

00:34:39.730 --> 00:34:44.050
You know, I, a lot of times. Read the room, right? They're shocked at,

00:34:44.190 --> 00:34:45.670
like, I'll say, like, what's going on?

00:34:45.770 --> 00:34:48.570
And they're like, I could tell, like, there's a little something.

00:34:49.010 --> 00:34:52.090
And they're so surprised. It's like, you've got to pay attention.

00:34:52.390 --> 00:34:55.590
So I think building the relationships, super important.

00:34:56.510 --> 00:34:59.990
Number four, and that does help you. Although, you know, there are kids where

00:34:59.990 --> 00:35:04.750
it's like, you're not for me and I'm not for you. So, like, you should find another spot to be.

00:35:05.150 --> 00:35:07.750
Right? I think sometimes we say finding relationships and then,

00:35:07.870 --> 00:35:10.990
like, on the opposite end of that, it's, no.

00:35:10.990 --> 00:35:13.630
Like, you're not my cup of tea and I am not yours. So, like,

00:35:13.750 --> 00:35:16.850
go find another teacher because this isn't ever going to work,

00:35:16.870 --> 00:35:20.370
no matter how hard I work at it. Like, we're at an impasse.

00:35:20.490 --> 00:35:22.530
And that happens to the best teachers.

00:35:23.750 --> 00:35:27.410
Talk to other educators. Well, we've checked that box, sir.

00:35:28.550 --> 00:35:35.370
Yeah, ultimately, every week, day, month, all the things that we're doing. Yeah.

00:35:36.450 --> 00:35:40.070
Yeah. Talking to people in our building, talking to people out of our building.

00:35:40.070 --> 00:35:43.330
And I do think that that helps people too.

00:35:43.810 --> 00:35:49.010
And if the people around you are too much, dip in and dip out, right?

00:35:49.210 --> 00:35:52.510
You know, I mean, there are sometimes those situations where you're in a faculty

00:35:52.510 --> 00:35:55.170
room or something's going on and it's just not your vibe.

00:35:55.330 --> 00:35:58.890
Like, go check in, say hi, and then go somewhere else, right?

00:35:58.970 --> 00:36:02.670
You don't have to stay in an environment that's not, you know,

00:36:03.430 --> 00:36:04.870
fueling you in the right way.

00:36:06.128 --> 00:36:10.288
What was, what was it? Was it you that said, maybe you heard it from somewhere

00:36:10.288 --> 00:36:14.708
else about like, you don't want to sit at a table where somebody doesn't save

00:36:14.708 --> 00:36:16.068
a chair for you or something?

00:36:16.628 --> 00:36:20.068
Was it, was that you? I can't remember what that, I don't remember the exact

00:36:20.068 --> 00:36:21.768
saying. I mean, that would be right.

00:36:22.128 --> 00:36:27.908
Yeah. Because people, you know, you're not meant to sit at every table.

00:36:28.308 --> 00:36:31.908
That's true, too, which can be difficult to hear.

00:36:32.308 --> 00:36:36.508
But, you know, sometimes, yeah, it's not for you. And that's okay.

00:36:37.628 --> 00:36:43.768
Which is hard. I think that's something that comes to us when we get a little bit older.

00:36:45.008 --> 00:36:50.208
Yeah, I think you're right. I think it takes a little bit of time to develop that skill.

00:36:50.468 --> 00:36:54.208
So those of you who might not feel as welcomed, it could be for a variety of reasons.

00:36:54.288 --> 00:36:57.768
And you went through that before, like when you were in, you know,

00:36:57.868 --> 00:37:00.788
another building and you were younger in the profession. It was like,

00:37:00.888 --> 00:37:01.668
well, what does she know?

00:37:01.828 --> 00:37:05.228
You know, you're dealing with stuff like that. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah.

00:37:05.248 --> 00:37:11.128
And then my and then number five, keep fighting, which I think is great that they put this in here.

00:37:11.288 --> 00:37:17.028
And and so it says in a state like Arizona, which ranks last in the nation for

00:37:17.028 --> 00:37:19.968
per student spending, it's important to speak up.

00:37:20.248 --> 00:37:25.348
I refuse to lay down and take it. McKinley notes our students deserve better, if not the best.

00:37:25.348 --> 00:37:29.948
So, you know, there is that element of speak up for, you know,

00:37:30.008 --> 00:37:33.608
the things that you believe in, because, of course, we know that,

00:37:33.748 --> 00:37:37.388
you know, being a bystander is certainly going to, instead of an upstander,

00:37:37.528 --> 00:37:39.648
is certainly going to take away your joy.

00:37:40.328 --> 00:37:44.148
Yeah. I want to make one comment on the last thing, though. Absolutely. Right.

00:37:44.808 --> 00:37:49.208
And again, that might not be in everybody's DNA to.

00:37:50.228 --> 00:37:54.908
Fight. To keep fighting, right? Because let me be very clear. It's exhausting.

00:37:56.100 --> 00:38:02.080
It's exhausting to have to constantly feel like you are swimming upstream to

00:38:02.080 --> 00:38:06.520
get appropriate funding or to make sure that your classroom has what it needs

00:38:06.520 --> 00:38:08.840
and that your students have what they need.

00:38:10.160 --> 00:38:14.880
It's exhausting to have to deal with that. And like people don't seem to understand

00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:18.520
in our that is very unique, I think, to our profession.

00:38:18.860 --> 00:38:24.020
Like doctors are not asking for more scalpels. You know what I mean?

00:38:24.980 --> 00:38:27.840
Right. Like those things are all taken care of. Yeah, can I get a little more

00:38:27.840 --> 00:38:31.500
gauze or like, you know, oh, we can't have an anesthesiologist today.

00:38:31.700 --> 00:38:33.820
Oh, I'm so sorry. And by the way, there are- You're going to have to do this

00:38:33.820 --> 00:38:34.920
whole surgery by yourself.

00:38:35.280 --> 00:38:40.100
There are one-offs to this. There was a doctor I recently saw.

00:38:40.120 --> 00:38:43.980
It was like giving a press conference outside of the hospital and like the-

00:38:44.964 --> 00:38:48.864
I think she was like, had just finished a surgery and they were closing on a

00:38:48.864 --> 00:38:50.824
patient and they were like, you need to send her home.

00:38:51.064 --> 00:38:55.984
And she's like, well, I kind of can't do that because she's on an operating table.

00:38:56.544 --> 00:39:00.484
And like, she was basically being told things. And then after the fact was told

00:39:00.484 --> 00:39:04.404
not to say those things and told to not tell the truth. And she's like, I'm not doing that.

00:39:04.544 --> 00:39:09.304
Like our patients need to be advocated for in, in, in certain regards,

00:39:09.604 --> 00:39:11.964
especially where we're talking about, you know, health insurance.

00:39:11.964 --> 00:39:14.424
We haven't really talked about school funding.

00:39:14.604 --> 00:39:20.964
That is a conversation for another episode because that's, you know. So how about this?

00:39:21.924 --> 00:39:26.504
Let's go back to, because I'm also about, you know.

00:39:27.084 --> 00:39:32.584
I also feel like, I'm sorry. I also feel like I'm Debbie Downer.

00:39:32.724 --> 00:39:34.444
Like you're saying, like, these are all the things that bring us joy.

00:39:34.584 --> 00:39:35.684
And they're like, well, that's exhausting.

00:39:36.024 --> 00:39:40.404
I mean, it's point counterpoint. It's okay. Yeah, but it's also very exhausting

00:39:40.404 --> 00:39:42.364
to deal with that idea. daily basis.

00:39:42.684 --> 00:39:46.604
So yeah, I want to tell you from the book that I just love so much,

00:39:46.764 --> 00:39:51.964
some things that, and this is from my girlfriend, my true love, Colleen.

00:39:52.224 --> 00:39:55.784
She gave this to me for my birthday 10 years ago. So when I tell you,

00:39:55.924 --> 00:39:58.624
like, I mean, the inscription, when I tell you the amount of times that I have

00:39:58.624 --> 00:40:00.284
read and reread this book.

00:40:00.904 --> 00:40:07.344
And so if you are thinking about framing your, you know, if you have off this

00:40:07.344 --> 00:40:10.864
summer, you're working three jobs because, you know, you've got to make it through

00:40:10.864 --> 00:40:13.084
the summer because remember, teachers don't get paid in the summer.

00:40:13.684 --> 00:40:20.004
Here are some things that might help to boost your personal happiness. Okay. Okay.

00:40:21.104 --> 00:40:26.484
Super basics. Number one, get rid of anything you don't use or don't love.

00:40:27.124 --> 00:40:30.564
And we don't mean your spouses. Okay, everybody. We just mean stuff.

00:40:31.864 --> 00:40:37.564
Number two, jump. You'll get a quick jolt of energy and cheer. Okay.

00:40:38.708 --> 00:40:44.508
Number three, give, I love this one. Give warm greetings and farewells whenever

00:40:44.508 --> 00:40:46.488
people come and go from home.

00:40:49.268 --> 00:40:53.648
Oh, number four. Jason loves this one. Make your bed.

00:40:55.688 --> 00:41:01.648
Always make your bed. I always. Number five. This is a really big thing in our house.

00:41:01.968 --> 00:41:05.728
Cultivate shrines, places in your home that celebrate the people,

00:41:06.008 --> 00:41:08.688
the places, and the activities you love.

00:41:10.188 --> 00:41:16.028
Right. We call it whimsy around here, but we do welcome like just a just a drop of whimsy.

00:41:16.288 --> 00:41:20.908
It doesn't have to make sense. If it brings you that sense of happiness, then do it.

00:41:21.568 --> 00:41:25.308
Number six. Oh, I should be better about this. Go for a walk each day.

00:41:26.228 --> 00:41:29.788
Yeah, me too. I really need to do some walking. I do that. Walk,

00:41:30.048 --> 00:41:33.028
jump, shake. Number seven. If there's a task you dread.

00:41:33.948 --> 00:41:38.268
Oh, this is one of the tips that the doctor that we had on just before Christmas

00:41:38.268 --> 00:41:41.528
gave us. If there's a task you dread, do it for just 15 minutes.

00:41:41.868 --> 00:41:46.288
You can withstand anything for 15 minutes. Yeah, that's an executive function

00:41:46.288 --> 00:41:48.248
technique. Yes, Gretchen Rubin.

00:41:49.088 --> 00:41:52.868
Gretchen Rubin. And that's from, what was her name? Dr. Lethko.

00:41:53.248 --> 00:41:57.028
Dr. Lethko, that's right. And number eight.

00:41:58.528 --> 00:42:05.168
You and I were talking about this today. Always put your keys in the same place. Oh, my God. Darn it.

00:42:05.748 --> 00:42:08.008
I want to. Why? Why?

00:42:08.988 --> 00:42:14.508
Yeah, I know. My kids, I love you guys. You're amazing. Put your damn wallet

00:42:14.508 --> 00:42:16.908
and your keys in the same spot every day. In the same spot.

00:42:17.468 --> 00:42:21.848
Number nine, accept yourself and expect more from yourself.

00:42:23.108 --> 00:42:26.508
Ooh. Number 10. Hold yourself to a high standard.

00:42:27.568 --> 00:42:33.848
Yes. And number 10, and this is just for you, Jason Wonko, because all I do

00:42:33.848 --> 00:42:35.648
is talk about sleep hygiene.

00:42:36.468 --> 00:42:38.068
Get enough sleep.

00:42:39.635 --> 00:42:42.755
Prioritize sleep so um

00:42:42.755 --> 00:42:45.575
you know she has all of these different um people that she

00:42:45.575 --> 00:42:48.355
studied and and techniques and and all sorts of different

00:42:48.355 --> 00:42:51.035
things and um and it's so it says is there

00:42:51.035 --> 00:42:56.795
a happiness mantra or motto that you have found to be very very helpful and

00:42:56.795 --> 00:43:03.875
uh you know she says know thyself which i love and also be jamie or be joe right

00:43:03.875 --> 00:43:08.415
just be who you are and and let that be so So if you are,

00:43:08.755 --> 00:43:11.675
you know, and I've had a pretty, I would say of my school years,

00:43:11.795 --> 00:43:16.235
I've had some that I can kind of look back on and go, this was a very difficult year.

00:43:16.395 --> 00:43:22.495
And for this one, this 25, 26 year was a very, very difficult emotional struggle for me.

00:43:23.375 --> 00:43:26.835
And so, you know, every January, you know, we announce our words of the year

00:43:26.835 --> 00:43:29.655
and what we're going to do. And it's going to kind of set us up for the year.

00:43:29.855 --> 00:43:32.435
And, of course, you know, there's half the year left, right?

00:43:34.655 --> 00:43:39.735
But anybody can work on whether it's, you know, whether you're a teacher or

00:43:39.735 --> 00:43:42.575
you are a therapist or you are, you know,

00:43:42.895 --> 00:43:49.655
a lifeguard, whatever it is that you do, you can prioritize joy and work on

00:43:49.655 --> 00:43:55.855
it and find these tips and tricks to try to help, to help yourself because,

00:43:56.435 --> 00:43:59.915
you know, life is tough. Yeah, it is. Yeah.

00:44:01.745 --> 00:44:06.165
That's why I think it's like, it's good to see that we, that people are finding

00:44:06.165 --> 00:44:07.245
joy in their profession.

00:44:07.525 --> 00:44:09.765
Also, that's where the reset comes in every once in a while.

00:44:09.905 --> 00:44:14.685
We're very lucky in our profession that every, you know, August or September,

00:44:14.685 --> 00:44:17.085
when our school year starts, depending on where you're listening from,

00:44:17.265 --> 00:44:21.865
that you get the ability to hit the reset button, start with new kids, start over again.

00:44:22.525 --> 00:44:26.205
Try things differently, and really enact something that's going to maybe change

00:44:26.205 --> 00:44:30.305
and hopefully set yourself up for success for the school year.

00:44:30.305 --> 00:44:34.885
So, yes. And that is, you know, where we focus on the balance of it all.

00:44:35.145 --> 00:44:40.105
So, yeah. And just very quickly, before we talk about our season three sponsor,

00:44:40.225 --> 00:44:43.345
I do want to mention something that Jamie and I are going to be participating

00:44:43.345 --> 00:44:45.705
and we're going to drop a link in the episode description.

00:44:46.005 --> 00:44:49.525
You'll see us posting about it on social media as well. on

00:44:49.525 --> 00:44:53.005
june 30th and july 1st there

00:44:53.005 --> 00:44:56.065
is uh kelsey sorenson who runs educate and

00:44:56.065 --> 00:44:59.385
rejuvenate who was on our show this season um

00:44:59.385 --> 00:45:02.065
it's a full live event for pre-k to

00:45:02.065 --> 00:45:05.985
12 teachers who are tired of the crash all summer panic in august and push through

00:45:05.985 --> 00:45:10.925
the year cycle um it's a two-day little workshop that talk about lightening

00:45:10.925 --> 00:45:14.865
your workload it's going to link you up with other like-minded teachers and

00:45:14.865 --> 00:45:18.985
you can walk away with a plan to show up to your classroom energized um I know

00:45:18.985 --> 00:45:20.125
for a lot of our colleagues,

00:45:20.405 --> 00:45:25.925
we kind of end school on like the 23rd and then already start thinking about next year.

00:45:26.105 --> 00:45:31.985
That Sunday might be a little much, but there's live sessions.

00:45:32.145 --> 00:45:33.105
There's taped sessions.

00:45:33.505 --> 00:45:36.465
Jamie and I will be on one of the sessions. We're going to be doing a recording

00:45:36.465 --> 00:45:40.025
with Kelsey for an episode of her podcast that's going to come out later.

00:45:41.145 --> 00:45:44.765
But there's a lot of different reviews for it. One of the best parts about it

00:45:44.765 --> 00:45:49.105
is most of it is free. There are some paid events that you could sign up for.

00:45:49.345 --> 00:45:52.165
Um, but it's really cool if you're looking for something to,

00:45:52.445 --> 00:45:57.105
you know, get your mind right and really focus on like the positive and the

00:45:57.105 --> 00:45:58.725
good, um, um, um, um, um, um, um,

00:45:59.270 --> 00:46:02.090
there's some really cool stuff that that's going to be going on those days

00:46:02.090 --> 00:46:04.730
so i definitely want you guys to our listeners to check it

00:46:04.730 --> 00:46:07.570
out um and again we have yeah we are really looking

00:46:07.570 --> 00:46:11.070
forward to that educate yeah absolutely yeah um

00:46:11.070 --> 00:46:14.890
she does some really great stuff kelsey does some really awesome stuff um and

00:46:14.890 --> 00:46:18.550
shout out to her for like even when we signed up for this like we got this incredibly

00:46:18.550 --> 00:46:21.630
thorough email with a document of like things that we could post and emails

00:46:21.630 --> 00:46:26.290
we could send so like that's also the heavy lift of taking that off of us too

00:46:26.290 --> 00:46:29.350
is is also very refreshing so So she does one hell of a job.

00:46:29.730 --> 00:46:32.130
And I know she's, and we've never done this before.

00:46:32.570 --> 00:46:37.070
So we don't know what it's going to be like. However, knowing Kelsey and how

00:46:37.070 --> 00:46:40.110
she plans things, I'm sure this is going to be amazing.

00:46:40.590 --> 00:46:44.230
Like all the things that she does. So, yeah. And we did a great episode with

00:46:44.230 --> 00:46:46.930
her. So definitely check that out if you're looking for more of a preview with it.

00:46:47.250 --> 00:46:51.510
Yeah. And speaking of amazing, season three is brought to you by our amazing

00:46:51.510 --> 00:46:54.450
presenting sponsor, Teachers Insurance Plan. Presenting sponsor.

00:46:55.230 --> 00:46:58.170
Check out their website below or in tagged in

00:46:58.170 --> 00:47:01.270
the episode for more information and give them

00:47:01.270 --> 00:47:04.090
a call to get a quote teacher's insurance plan auto

00:47:04.090 --> 00:47:08.710
insurance that brings exclusive educator savings and exceptional customer care

00:47:08.710 --> 00:47:13.670
to new jersey and pennsylvania educational employees and by the way mr vitale

00:47:13.670 --> 00:47:19.530
they uh just dropped uh teacher week oh yeah that's something else we should

00:47:19.530 --> 00:47:23.590
mention yes the beach yes oh my Goodness gracious.

00:47:23.950 --> 00:47:27.930
So there is, I'll have to find the link for that one. I believe they sent it

00:47:27.930 --> 00:47:30.550
to us. It's all over social media. So if you check out,

00:47:31.147 --> 00:47:35.867
teacher's insurance plan on Instagram. That's what they do primarily most of their posting.

00:47:36.507 --> 00:47:40.067
Yes. It's a free event. Jamie and I actually did it last year. I've done it before.

00:47:40.347 --> 00:47:44.467
It was kind of went away after the pandemic and a couple of years after,

00:47:44.547 --> 00:47:45.367
but they just brought it back.

00:47:45.527 --> 00:47:50.187
You basically get to sign up. You get a free pass to the beach in Point Pleasant.

00:47:50.507 --> 00:47:57.467
You also get either a round of mini golf or the entry to the aquarium.

00:47:57.487 --> 00:48:00.007
If it's like years past, I don't, I haven't looked at the. Yeah,

00:48:00.007 --> 00:48:01.507
so look, so mark your calendars.

00:48:01.627 --> 00:48:05.187
It's Wednesday, July 29th through Friday, July 31st.

00:48:05.567 --> 00:48:09.487
Pre-registration is going to open soon. So make sure that you check out Teacher's

00:48:09.487 --> 00:48:10.827
Insurance Plan for updates.

00:48:11.787 --> 00:48:15.767
They have been doing this event for nearly 10 years. So this is the 10th year,

00:48:16.067 --> 00:48:19.687
maybe like Mr. Vitale said, they may have missed a couple of years because of COVID.

00:48:19.907 --> 00:48:23.747
This summer marks the, oh, the sixth year hosting the event.

00:48:23.927 --> 00:48:29.687
And they are very excited to invite all of New Jersey and Pennsylvania educators and their families.

00:48:29.967 --> 00:48:34.927
So you can go to Jenkinson's Beach and Boardwalk in Point Pleasant,

00:48:35.047 --> 00:48:38.947
New Jersey for Teacher Week at the Beach.

00:48:39.708 --> 00:48:43.468
Yeah, really fun. And they also got some freebies that they give out.

00:48:43.628 --> 00:48:46.588
They give out the elite dry erase board marker or dry erase.

00:48:46.588 --> 00:48:49.048
Next level. They are everything to me.

00:48:49.268 --> 00:48:51.908
Dry erase marker board eraser. That's what it is. Yes. Fans.

00:48:52.408 --> 00:48:55.648
Oh, they had all sorts. They have really cool stuff. Plus free admission to

00:48:55.648 --> 00:48:59.088
the beach. And like you said, mini golf or the aquarium.

00:48:59.888 --> 00:49:04.248
That's yeah, it's awesome. Who doesn't like free stuff? And you might be seeing yourself self.

00:49:05.048 --> 00:49:09.248
Charging for beaches. Yeah. In some states like New Jersey, beaches are charged

00:49:09.248 --> 00:49:10.168
for it. They're not free.

00:49:10.668 --> 00:49:14.468
So you have to pay either a daily fee or you buy a pass for the season.

00:49:15.568 --> 00:49:20.648
Dailies, weeklies, or season. Yeah, $8 to $10 or something like that. Or more.

00:49:20.768 --> 00:49:24.328
I couldn't even tell you what it is there. Yeah, because I know you get the

00:49:24.328 --> 00:49:25.548
season down by where you are.

00:49:25.788 --> 00:49:28.088
I get a season, I do, yeah. But yeah, definitely check that out.

00:49:28.088 --> 00:49:29.128
Mr. Vitale, I appreciate you.

00:49:29.668 --> 00:49:32.908
I appreciate you too. I also appreciate our sponsors.

00:49:33.088 --> 00:49:37.948
And hopefully it's not 8,000 degrees there like it was last year because I think Chris melted.

00:49:38.948 --> 00:49:43.168
I remember we walked onto the sand and went into the water.

00:49:43.628 --> 00:49:48.088
We didn't last more than about four seconds in our chairs, and we had to get right into the ocean.

00:49:48.328 --> 00:49:51.308
Yeah, we just dropped everything and ran. Glorious, glorious.

00:49:51.528 --> 00:49:56.588
Yeah, so I appreciate you too, friend. And we will see everybody next time on

00:49:56.588 --> 00:49:58.308
The Balancing Act Podcast. Bye.

00:49:59.208 --> 00:50:03.688
Look for The Balancing Act Podcast every week on your favorite podcast platform.

00:50:03.988 --> 00:50:05.768
New episodes drop every Tuesday.